African steel giant ArcelorMittal SA (AMSA) has deepened its commitment to improving road infrastructure in its hometown Vanderbijlpark in Gauteng by pumping an additional R3 million into an existing upgrade project.

AMSA’s roads project is far more than just filling potholes, and includes fixing street lights and grass-cutting to reduce the crime and grime factor, as well as fully maintaining repaired infrastructure and not allowing it to fall back into disrepair.

Additional funding – which will contribute significantly to improving the investment climate in the Vaal, comes on top of more than R2,2 million already spent by AMSA to improve Vanderbijlpark roads in 2023.

The additional spending was immediately welcomed as an indicator of AMSA CEO Kobus Verster’s commitment to improving public infrastructure in the company’s hometown despite the current “steel winter”, which has seen a massive drop in the company’s profits.

The recently-established Vaal Business Forum (VBF), of which AMSA is a founder-member, applauded the additional funding and said it was a call to further action and infrastructure investment by business in the Vaal.

“The VBF is hugely encouraged by this funding by AMSA. Business is a key partner in assisting with infrastructure and other challenges facing Emfuleni.

“This is thus a call for business as a collective and the VBF to do more,” said VBF Chairperson Wayne Sussman.

VBF members include some iconic South African and Vaal companies, including AMSA itself, Cape Gate, CWI, Nampak, Air Products, Greif, Kingsley and Collect-a-Can, amongst others.

Sussman also reiterated his call that more businesses join the VBF so that more could be done on infrastructure projects in support of the Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) to improve both business and community conditions.

The additional R3 million in roads funding was confirmed this week by Tami Didiza, AMSA Senior Manager: Stakeholder Management and Communication.

At present the project is centred in Hertz, McColm and Curie Boulevards – all major arteries between AMSA’s Head Office/Production Works in Delfos Boulevard and the rest of the town – but could still be extended further in a corridor cutting across the town centre in the direction of Vereeniging.

Ultimately, should funding and maintenance costs allow, the project could reach as far as Westinghouse, Playfair and Livingstone Boulevards.

Road infrastructure in Vanderbijlpark’s industrial areas adjacent to AMSA have become seriously dilapidated in recent years with massive damage to infrastructure by especially truck transport, which the steel-maker is forced to use for lack of a railway network to move its products to market.

The road upgrades do not utilise AMSA personnel but specially-selected and approved SMME’s, said Didiza.